By Matilda Atieno
In a significant advancement for Kisumu Climate resilient investment, the research center located at the Railways ward in Kisumu Central was officially commissioned earlier today.
The resource center is projected at a cost of Kshs.120M upon its completion with its initial and ongoing phase being implemented at a cost of Kshs. 40M. The center was officially commissioned by the CS Treasury and Economic Planning Hon. John Mbadi and Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, witnessed by key figures including the Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Owili, National coordinator FLLOCCA, Mr. Peter Odhengo, CEC members as well as Railways Ward Climate Change Planning Committee members among other Country officials.
Speaking on this fruitful partnership, Hon. Mbadi highlighted the national government’s substantial investment in the Climate resilience of Kenya matching the Kisumu stature in the country. He affirmed the Government’s commitment to support issues of climate change emphasizing that this significant investment, made possible by the generosity of partners, allows the state to provide crucial funding and technical assistance across a range of climate priorities.
Governor Nyong’o expressed gratitude for the efforts, reiterating the significance of the initiative which seeks to enhance the capacity and awareness of the citizenry of Kisumu on climate change risks, adaptations, and mitigation measures through the provision of real-time and reliable climate data and information.
The state-of-the-art facility represents a new chapter in addressing climate change issues in Kisumu and further strengthening the ongoing resilience actions currently undertaken by the county government under the FLLoCA partnership program between the World Bank and the government of Kenya in advancing adaptation outcomes across the nation.
The major components of the resource center include a modern online library, research, publication, and media center that will contain climate-related publication books, research, and IEC materials,
innovation Center which will provide green technology and climate innovations,
Community state of art hall which will generate revenue for self-sustainability through meetings and other related activities, Data center for purposes of scenario planning and forecasting as well as
Departmental office that will house the Department of Water, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources for Kisumu County
The Kisumu climate change research center is a cutting-edge facility that will enhance the community’s resilience and be accessed by the larger Lake Region Economic Block (LREB). It targets the youths, women climate entrepreneurs, farmers, farmer groups, scholars, County staff, marginalized and vulnerable groups, Development partners, and like-minded stakeholders of LREB.
The anticipated outcome of the intervention includes the creation of employment for the youths, the development of evidence-based climate policies, improved climate resiliency of the citizenry of Kisumu, and the implementation of efficient and effective climate change adaptation and mitigation interventions.
As Kisumu faces ongoing challenges in climate change the center will play a critical role in ensuring accurate information, ultimately addressing climate and bolstering the county’s mitigation and adaptation responses.